I reached out to my Ixies (Patreon)
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with a desperate, beseeching look, the look of a drowning elf going down for the last time. Why weren't they helping me?? Was it because Ash - I mean Dr. Cesawonki - had trained them? Had it been the plan all along to betray me at the final moment? It didn't matter at this point; it was too late ... My Ixies couldn't save me from these Unseelie witches' clutches even if they tried! All of my strength was gone, drained away by their suffocating spell! With a final shudder, I surrendered to my fate. I went limp and closed my eyes for the last time. I hoped that I had lived my life well enough to be taken into Fuma's Embrace.
"Um, Sire," one of the Ixies murmured. "Are you all right? They're just hugging you."
My eyes snapped open.
"Oh," I said, observantly. I looked at Burnside and Rebecca. The joy on their faces was obvious. I suddenly felt very foolish. "Um... yeah... hello, Rebecca... and Burnside... It's nice to see you too."
After a few seconds, Rebecca let go and stepped back to look at me. Burnside, however, continued clutching me with an inexorable grip.
"Burnside," I said, poking her gently with my one free hand. "You can let go now."
"Nuh uh," she mumbled, shaking her head and snuggling up even tighter against me.
"Aww, that's cute," Rebecca chuckled. "She's afraid if she lets go, she might lose you for another really long time."
"She's just doing it for attention," I grumbled. If I ignored her, she would eventually give up on her own. I turned my attention to Rebecca. "So how've you been?"
"I knew you would find a way to escape!" Rebecca gushed excitedly. "I just knew it! I never gave up hope! As for me, I've been doing well since Burnside rescued me from Ash Marten's lessons. Lessons, hah! It was more like propaganda! He hardly taught me any magick. He was holding out in order to get me to convert to Unseelieness, but I held fast! I never forgot what you taught me, and I always remembered my vision of Fuma and Saint Reynard. The Seelie way is the only way! Speaking of which, I can't wait to hear how you escaped! I tried going back to Bunkirk once to preach the ways of Fuma, but no one was willing to listen. I was actually surprised they didn't form a mob and try to chase me out! I assume that was your doing. You're so much more Seelie than I am. Here it's been almost two hundred years and I still have a lot to learn! How did you manage to parlay with those crusty old religious conservatives and convince them to lift their embargo and let you go? Spare no details! Did you convince any of them to accept the light of Fuma too?"
She stopped her torrent of words, and I realized that now she was expecting me to say something. A deep pit formed in my stomach. What could I tell her about the doom that befell Bunkirk?
"Um, Rebecca," I started reluctantly. "You might want to sit down. I have some bad news..."